Ukraine was blindsided by new limits placed on satellite connectivity inside the country that handicapped its ability to use military drones and defend against Russian attacks.
After bipartisan backlash on Wednesday, Elon Musk said it was the U.S., not his company SpaceX that provides the systems, that made the call.
The limits affected both the Starlink satellite connections, used for civilian and defensive activities, as well as Starshield, the version designed for government and military use for both defensive and offensive capabilities.
On Tuesday night, Ukraine discovered that neither system could connect to data from objects — like satellite-controlled defensive and offensive drones — traveling more than 100 miles per hour, a source familiar with the actions told MS NOW on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.
Serhii Beskrestnov, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s defense technology adviser, confirmed overnight that the speed limit for use of Starshield services “resulted in the disruption of several missions.”
“It is clear that this action is not coincidental and is related to the current political situation,” Beskrestnov wrote.
The Starshield connections are “critical for Ukraine’s defense,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote Wednesday on X, saying the high-speed use was being restored.
Musk said the Starshield satellite connections the Ukraine military relies on are ultimately controlled by President Donald Trump.
“Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government,” Musk wrote on X. “Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS.”
The White House, Pentagon and SpaceX did not respond to MS NOW’s requests for comment.
SpaceX provided no prior warning to the Ukrainian government about the limitation, the source said. Ukrainian forces learned about the Starshield speed restrictions from customer support after filing a complaint about operational issues.
SpaceX informed Ukrainian officials that the restriction applies to drones and aircraft flying at speeds of 100 mph or higher, but, the source said, military units also reported issues with performance at lower drone speeds.
“This makes the operation of UAVs, airplanes and helicopters at high speeds impossible, which will also impact efforts to counter Shahed drones within Ukraine,” the source said, adding the speed restriction affects all defense operations and logistics, giving Russians “a real leverage on the frontline” at a time when Ukraine has effectively stopped their advances.
Even Republicans had strong words for both Musk and the Trump administration.
“I’m confident this does not reflect a change in SpaceX policy because if so, intentionally degrading Ukraine’s ability to defend itself might be construed as aiding and abetting a mass murderer,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-S.C., wrote to Musk on X, asking him to clarify SpaceX’s position.
The timing of the Starshield changes coincides with Ukrainian officials saying the U.S. and allied partners have not been giving them the same amount of early warnings about incoming Russian ballistic missile attacks.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said Trump’s decision to reduce intelligence sharing with Ukraine and access to Starlink equated to “aiding the invader & the war criminal who bombs cities,” and threatens to reduce congressional support for the Trump administration.
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Julia Jester is a politics reporter for MS NOW.
